​​HOUSTON - As Houston deals with a softening office market, Hines just landed its first major tenant for a speculative tower under construction downtown.

Kirkland & Ellis LLP, an international law firm, signed a 62,000-sf lease for the top two and a half floors of 609 Main at Texas.

The tower is expected to be complete in early 2017, and Kirkland will relocate its 75 Houston office employees from 600 Travis St.Houston-based Hines broke ground on the 48-story, 1,050,000-sf office tower in late 2013.

Chicago-based Kirkland & Ellis opened its Houston office in early 2014.

“In less than two years, our Houston office has grown to include 45 lawyers. Our new space will provide an environment responsive to the needs of our clients and our people as we continue to build out key areas of the practice," Andrew Calder, a partner at Kirkland, said in a statement.